Camino de Santiago is A Journey For the Masses

“You can,” I protest. “The Camino is completely different from the Appalachian Trail.”

“How so?”

This is a sample conversation that I have had with countless potential pilgrims. Believe it or not, some of these conversations have been fruitful (resulting in the person deciding to attempt the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Europe).

The Camino de Santiago was actually a big part of European life during medieval times. It is said that 500,000 pilgrims per year attempted the cross-continental journey on foot to the great Gothic Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. At the end of the Middle Ages, the Camino fell out of favor for almost 500 years; but in the last twenty years it has staged a stunning comeback. What accounts for this storied pilgrimage’s continued success?

Since the earliest human peregrinations, people have wondered how to travel more fruitfully, more fulfilling, more soulfully. Interestingly, the word travel is derived from the word travails, which connotes beleaguerment. That brings up an interesting irony–in this day and age of supersonic jet travel and instantaneous electronic communication, it has become harder to travel well. Modern tourism so often seems to be about destination. One can often subtly hear the frustrations of travellers who return from their long journeys. Deep in their subconscious seems to be the thought, ‘Is that all?’ The hope of the sublime, life changing encounters somewhere along the way usually proves elusive.

Pilgrimages on the other hand are much more about transformation. The nature of the daily routine on the Camino is such that it is virtually impossible to not make authentic relationships. Pilgrims typically walk about 25 kilometers (15 miles) per day, taking a coffee or sandwich break along the way. In the early afternoon pilgrims usually begin arriving in the pueblo of their destination, and reserve a bunk at either municipal, private, or parochial albergues. It is then customary for most pilgrims to take a shower, do their laundry, and perhaps take a shower. In the early evening everybody heads off to local restaurants, usually looking for taverns that offer a ‘Menu del Peregrino’ (Pilgrims menu). This includes a first and second dish, bread, olive oil, dessert, and red wine (Hint: Bad wine has yet to be invented in Spain). Everyone then heads back to the albergue for a typical 10:30 curfew.

At almost all times, a person can expect to be surrounded by fellow pilgrims, hailing from countries the world over. It virtually impossible to not make some acquaintances. Better yet, these will not be the superficial ‘waiter-customer’ or ‘desk clerk-guest’ conversations that typify more conventional travel, but rather more authentic human interactions. Relationships just develop naturally and organically on the Camino. I spent a large amount of time joyfully traipsing through the Spanish countryside with a large group from Paris. Of course, the cultural rivalries and differences of French and Americans are legendary; but the Camino reaches beyond such narrow concerns.

Perhaps the best part of the Camino routine is its sheer balance. It is a compelling daily equilibrium of struggle, socializing, spiritual, history, food, and wine. Besides being a babble of languages, the Camino casts the widest possible net in terms of age, abilities, and gender. I’ve seen pilgrims as young as six (which make for great photos), as well as pilgrims in their eighties struggling valiantly to Santiago de Compostela.

While the Camino is certainly not an easy trek, it is clearly less difficult than America’s trail of the masses, the Appalachian Trail. For starters, it is a much more manageable size (500 miles to 2,180 miles). Better yet, pilgrims carry less weight, you never feel terribly isolated or fear getting lost, and there is no serious danger from either rabid animals or crazed humans. The Appalachian Trail has made great progress in gender participation; but the Camino de Santiago is probably the only popular footpath in the world where women equal roughly half the participants.

And given that women are the fastest growing segment of adventure travel, I would look for women to eventually outnumber males on the Camino de Santiago.

The bottom line is this: If you like people, you will love the Camino de Santiago. This is all very fitting. While modern pilgrims have all kinds of motivations, the fact is that this storied pilgrimage has Christian roots. And Christianity by its very nature is a religion of the masses. Absolutely no one is excluded as, for instance, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca which requires its pilgrims to be members of the Muslim faith.

The modern Camino almost reminds me of a grand social experiment. Sizable chunks of humanity are thrown together for an intensive several weeks of travel on foot. I can honestly say that I have been struck over the course of my three pilgrimages at how civilized the vast majority of pilgrims are able to comport themselves over such a lengthy journey. In fact, it is striking how much less coarse language one hears or gawdy acts are committed on this pilgrimage compared to the other footpaths I have walked.

Yes, this old-new way of travel is here to stay. Let the masses go forward.

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Thank you Bill for your very insightful thoughts on the Camino. I have just finished my second Camino, this time from Sarria. Three years ago from St Jean to Leon. I am 65 now, unfit and untrained, but I did it! It is a journey of agony and ecstasy, sharing the lows and the highs with complete strangers who often don’t even speak your language. The Camino for me crosses the barriers of race, culture and language. It reveals the best of our humanity. Buen Camino Johanna

Since I saw “The Way” four times, I decided during the first time I saw it, that one day I will do this. To see where St. James is, is beyond amazing to me and I vowed to myself that it is something I will do one day in my lifetime! Thank you for this article!

i saw the way, maybe four times, plus i told others to see them, i’m in madrid right now, i travel by train to paris and biarritz on the 25/26, i really hope that is everything that you or others say… i know it is!

Thank you for all the thoughts/reflections Bill and Leslie in this and the many other media. my life has been focused on, and filled with plans/work toward my “hoped-for” walk fall 2014 (for my 57th birthday – being born in 1957). i now must have a knee replacement. any pilgrims out there who have walked this amazing trail with an artificial knee? peace, wishing you gentleness, marney

Yes we did it last year and my husband had a full knee replacement 12 months prior. He was 61 and we completed the walk in 35 days! He skipped two days with very steep declines but did the rest. Roncevales he took the bus and one other day! Best achievement of our lives. Also we did not carry our luggage was forwarded and we just had a day pack 32 litres. Have fun btw we did a lot of training prior and our fitness made it more enjoyable

Marney, I started the camino last April with another couple. We completed the Camino in May. The couple I was with each had knee implants and I had a partial knee replacement. On the third day of our Camino, I tore the Memiscus in my right knee,but with a lot of effort I completed the Camino. Don’t let the knee surgery stop you. Do a good job of rehabbing your knee, and you should be able to walk the Caminoand have one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. My the way I’m 66years old. So I know you can do it , if you really want to!!!!!

I am walking this year in May, for the the first time. The Camino has been on my bucket list for at least 15 years and finally my time has come. I read everything I can and am looking forward to the inevitable camaraderie such a journey instills in us all. A lovely article.

Your assertion that the Camino is a “grand social experiment” made me smile. One of the insights I took from my pilgrimage was how much we humans have in common, despite government posturing and invisible borders. The Camino is as diverse as you say, although I encountered few people of color. I hope this changes in the future.

For the benefit of your readers, I want to mention a resource to anyone discerning a call to walk this pilgrimage: the association of American Pilgrims on the Camino (APOC). They have a wonderfully active Facebook group and many online resources on their website for anyone what wants to know more (check them out at americanpilgrims.com).

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